This Too Shall Pass |
If I can endure for this minute |
Dec 27, 2007
A nice poem to welcome New Year !
Dec 21, 2007
Announcing the New Arrival at our home ...
We proundly announce the new arrival at our home...
As computers have become the most important entity in our lives, it is with great pleasure that we decided to increase our family size by adopting one more computer. The specifications are as follows :
MOTHER board : Asus
FATHER chip : AMD athlon
Face : Acer LCD monitor
Memory : 1 GB
Storage : 160 GB
Child weighs normal and seems to recognise sound and light. Its tail (mouse) and fingers (key board) are fine and healthy till date.
(Here is Vennila posing with the new arrival. Sibling rivalry hasn't started yet. Don't miss photograph sent by Petra from Germany as wallpaper and Bharani's wonderful painting of Tiruvannamalai temple as wallhanging.)
The main reason for this new arrival is our decision to migrate to open source and free software. For the last one week, we are almost Free. Ubuntu 7.10 is charming and enjoying the steep learning curve on everything related to linux. But, miles to go ...
Courtesy, the loan of Rs.20000 taken from the office and Tarsh's help to buy the parts in Bangalore, we got the computer. Like the saying in Tamil goes, after buying the elephant, we didn't have money to buy the chain. So, had to borrow again to buy the computer table and the UPS.
All is well right now.
As computers have become the most important entity in our lives, it is with great pleasure that we decided to increase our family size by adopting one more computer. The specifications are as follows :
MOTHER board : Asus
FATHER chip : AMD athlon
Face : Acer LCD monitor
Memory : 1 GB
Storage : 160 GB
Child weighs normal and seems to recognise sound and light. Its tail (mouse) and fingers (key board) are fine and healthy till date.
(Here is Vennila posing with the new arrival. Sibling rivalry hasn't started yet. Don't miss photograph sent by Petra from Germany as wallpaper and Bharani's wonderful painting of Tiruvannamalai temple as wallhanging.)The main reason for this new arrival is our decision to migrate to open source and free software. For the last one week, we are almost Free. Ubuntu 7.10 is charming and enjoying the steep learning curve on everything related to linux. But, miles to go ...
Courtesy, the loan of Rs.20000 taken from the office and Tarsh's help to buy the parts in Bangalore, we got the computer. Like the saying in Tamil goes, after buying the elephant, we didn't have money to buy the chain. So, had to borrow again to buy the computer table and the UPS.
All is well right now.
Dec 19, 2007
Pure and Isolated...
"The more pure and isolated you are, the more sterile you get", says Veenapani Chawla, artistic director and managing director of Adishakti.
If this statement were to be true, I shall be one of the most sterile persons. Totally lost touch with any of my relatives. (The only relatives I know of are my parents and sister !) Occasional emails and still rare phone calls to some college friends. That's it. Haven't attended any family weddings for ages. Left to my wife, mother and sister to take care of all that PR work in life - as is my father, I guess.
But, am I isolated ? Least of all. During the last fifteen years, life has become quite public. I mean, there isn't much private things going on in life. The line between personal life and professional life, of course, is quite blurred in Gudalur. Enjoying it thoroughly, extremely busy and generally having a freak out time.
There are hundred odd people in our team - a heady mix of some not-so-literate field level staff, top of the shelf technical professionals, old and young, men (sigh) and women (wow) and what not ! Isolated from outside world, yes. But, this lively group is a world by itself with all sorts of people, talents and wonderful moments.
It is a conscious choice to shut the door to the 'mainstream' world. Peace of mind is guaranteed, only if the impure of the other world is isolated and kept away. Occasional visits / exposure to the cities, to life being led by friends and relatives just reinforces this thought.
Someone asked, how do I motivate myself to stay in a small place like this and continue to work here for so long ? I said, "The trick is, actually, to go out once in a while."
One trip to Chennai or Bangalore is enough to keep me motivated to stay in Gudalur and work here for ever. The only place I want to go is my mother's village. After a short stop in Chennai for a few hours last week, I thought, "I will give my left arm to stay away from Metropolis". The best way to see big towns is in photographs, I am convinced.
Sterile ? Far from it. At the cost of sounding bombastic, I think, I am most creative and productive, only when I remain pure and isolated from the other influences. There is enough and more to learn from the people around, from newspaper and most importantly, from the web. Learning new languages, teaching computers to adults who have studied only upto 8th standard, negotiating with insurance company top brass, designing posters on tuberculosis, writing screenplay for documentaries, finding the missing 1 paise in balance sheets, calculating the full moon and new moon details for the next year (to design our calendar), answering questions from children in UK ... It is a cocktail of brilliant experiences. All sitting here in a valley called Gudalur.
I wonder whether I would have learnt the thousand things that I learnt in Gudalur if I had taken up a job requiring to stay in a big city with lot of exposure, requiring lot of travel and meeting lot of different people and what not.
That is why, I totally disagree with the rubbish about pure and isolation and sterile and all that stuff.
If this statement were to be true, I shall be one of the most sterile persons. Totally lost touch with any of my relatives. (The only relatives I know of are my parents and sister !) Occasional emails and still rare phone calls to some college friends. That's it. Haven't attended any family weddings for ages. Left to my wife, mother and sister to take care of all that PR work in life - as is my father, I guess.But, am I isolated ? Least of all. During the last fifteen years, life has become quite public. I mean, there isn't much private things going on in life. The line between personal life and professional life, of course, is quite blurred in Gudalur. Enjoying it thoroughly, extremely busy and generally having a freak out time.
There are hundred odd people in our team - a heady mix of some not-so-literate field level staff, top of the shelf technical professionals, old and young, men (sigh) and women (wow) and what not ! Isolated from outside world, yes. But, this lively group is a world by itself with all sorts of people, talents and wonderful moments.
It is a conscious choice to shut the door to the 'mainstream' world. Peace of mind is guaranteed, only if the impure of the other world is isolated and kept away. Occasional visits / exposure to the cities, to life being led by friends and relatives just reinforces this thought.
Someone asked, how do I motivate myself to stay in a small place like this and continue to work here for so long ? I said, "The trick is, actually, to go out once in a while."
One trip to Chennai or Bangalore is enough to keep me motivated to stay in Gudalur and work here for ever. The only place I want to go is my mother's village. After a short stop in Chennai for a few hours last week, I thought, "I will give my left arm to stay away from Metropolis". The best way to see big towns is in photographs, I am convinced.
Sterile ? Far from it. At the cost of sounding bombastic, I think, I am most creative and productive, only when I remain pure and isolated from the other influences. There is enough and more to learn from the people around, from newspaper and most importantly, from the web. Learning new languages, teaching computers to adults who have studied only upto 8th standard, negotiating with insurance company top brass, designing posters on tuberculosis, writing screenplay for documentaries, finding the missing 1 paise in balance sheets, calculating the full moon and new moon details for the next year (to design our calendar), answering questions from children in UK ... It is a cocktail of brilliant experiences. All sitting here in a valley called Gudalur.I wonder whether I would have learnt the thousand things that I learnt in Gudalur if I had taken up a job requiring to stay in a big city with lot of exposure, requiring lot of travel and meeting lot of different people and what not.That is why, I totally disagree with the rubbish about pure and isolation and sterile and all that stuff.
Dec 17, 2007
Mathematics is like LOVE !
Math is like LOVE. You know why. It is also a simple idea but it can get complicated.
Being good with numbers is nothing to do with being a good Mathematician. You are supposed to have a 'logical' mind. Mathematicians think totally differently from all of us normal mortals.
When 3 people are supposed to be in a room, but actually 5 came out of the room, what will you (or me for that matter) say ? We may say, "oh ! something wrong with my calculation.." or " how come ?" or at least "it is strange".
But, you know, what a mathematician will say ? "Now 2 more people have to go inside to make the room empty !" See, that is what I meant by a logical mind. Sometimes, they are too brilliant. They discover something, but don't know, what for. You may come across a news item, something line the one below. Don't bother, it is just some mathematician at work, that is all.
The math faculty decided they got to woo few first year students. So, they they made a television commercial to show how exciting mathematics can be. To get the biggest audience, it was scheduled at prime time:
2 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 5 o'clock, 7 o'clock and 11 o'clock.
Now, here is a tip on how to make your offspring good in Maths.
A ten year old boy was failing math. His parents tried everything from tutors to hypnosis, but to no avail. Finally, at the insistence of a family friend, they decided to enroll their son in a private Catholic school.
After the first day, the boy's parents were surprised when he walked in after school with a stern, focused and very determined expression on his face, and went right past them straight to his room, where he quietly closed the door.
For nearly two hours he toiled away in his room - with math books strewn about his desk and the surrounding floor. He emerged long enough to eat, and after quickly cleaning his plate, went straight back to his room, closed the door, and worked feverishly at his studies until bedtime.
This pattern continued ceaselessly until it was time for the first quarter report card.
The boy walked in with his report card -- unopened -- laid it on the dinner table and went straight to his room. Cautiously, his mother opened it, and to her amazement, she saw a bright red "A" under the subject of MATH. Overjoyed, she and her husband rushed into their son's room, thrilled at his remarkable progress.
"Was it the nuns that did it?", the father asked. The boy only shook his head and said, "No."
"Was it the one-on-one tutoring? The peer-mentoring?"
"No."
"The textbooks? The teachers? The curriculum?"
"Nope," said the son. "On that first day, when I walked in the front door and saw that guy they nailed to the 'plus sign,' I just knew they meant business!"
And, finally, here is what Mathematicians have to say about Mathematics !
If any of you meet this Oswald Veblen of 1924, you can tell him from my side that he is an ass.
See you later. In the meantime, be a good mathematician.
Being good with numbers is nothing to do with being a good Mathematician. You are supposed to have a 'logical' mind. Mathematicians think totally differently from all of us normal mortals.
When 3 people are supposed to be in a room, but actually 5 came out of the room, what will you (or me for that matter) say ? We may say, "oh ! something wrong with my calculation.." or " how come ?" or at least "it is strange".
But, you know, what a mathematician will say ? "Now 2 more people have to go inside to make the room empty !" See, that is what I meant by a logical mind. Sometimes, they are too brilliant. They discover something, but don't know, what for. You may come across a news item, something line the one below. Don't bother, it is just some mathematician at work, that is all.
Mathematicians have announced the existence of a new whole number which lies between 27 and 28. "We don't know why it's there or what it does," says Cambridge mathematician, Dr. Hilliard Haliard, "we only know that it doesn't behave properly when put into equations, and that it is divisible by six, though only once."While trying to understand the Prime Numbers, read some nice stuff about them. Here are a few :
- You know what seems odd to me? Numbers that aren't divisible by two.
- 2 is the only even number that is prime. It is odd, isn't it ?
- In Alaska, where it gets very cold, pi is only 3.00, instead of the normal 3.14159265358979323846264338327950288419716939937510. As you know, everything shrinks in the cold. They call it Eskimo Pi.
Prime Time
The math faculty decided they got to woo few first year students. So, they they made a television commercial to show how exciting mathematics can be. To get the biggest audience, it was scheduled at prime time:
2 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 5 o'clock, 7 o'clock and 11 o'clock.
- The Romans didn't find algebra very challenging, because X was always 10.
Now, here is a tip on how to make your offspring good in Maths.
A ten year old boy was failing math. His parents tried everything from tutors to hypnosis, but to no avail. Finally, at the insistence of a family friend, they decided to enroll their son in a private Catholic school.
After the first day, the boy's parents were surprised when he walked in after school with a stern, focused and very determined expression on his face, and went right past them straight to his room, where he quietly closed the door.
For nearly two hours he toiled away in his room - with math books strewn about his desk and the surrounding floor. He emerged long enough to eat, and after quickly cleaning his plate, went straight back to his room, closed the door, and worked feverishly at his studies until bedtime.
This pattern continued ceaselessly until it was time for the first quarter report card.
The boy walked in with his report card -- unopened -- laid it on the dinner table and went straight to his room. Cautiously, his mother opened it, and to her amazement, she saw a bright red "A" under the subject of MATH. Overjoyed, she and her husband rushed into their son's room, thrilled at his remarkable progress.
"Was it the nuns that did it?", the father asked. The boy only shook his head and said, "No."
"Was it the one-on-one tutoring? The peer-mentoring?"
"No."
"The textbooks? The teachers? The curriculum?"
"Nope," said the son. "On that first day, when I walked in the front door and saw that guy they nailed to the 'plus sign,' I just knew they meant business!"
And, finally, here is what Mathematicians have to say about Mathematics !
If any of you meet this Oswald Veblen of 1924, you can tell him from my side that he is an ass.See you later. In the meantime, be a good mathematician.
Dec 9, 2007
God's Grace - delivered at your door step
I am one of the big admirers of the postal department, now being branded as India Post. So, I was delighted to read this news this month.
Holy Ash by Post
I wonder what else can be sent through our wonderful postal system - besides God's grace and the holy ash, of course ! In my College days, quite a few things. Saree. Chains made of cheap beads. Even Diwali sweets to the office team in Gudalur once.
Once I was a voracious writer of letters. Wrote a Gujarati letter in IRMA days, using a 'Rapidex - Learn Gujarati in 30 days" book, I think, to Vandana. Wrote a Malayalam written to Rema Menon soon after coming to Gudalur. Major achievements, now when I think.
When I lived in the adivasi areas of Andhra Pradesh for three years, it was wonderful to see the 'Runners' of the postal department in those really remote places. For every twenty kilometres or so, there will be a carrying the postal bags, containing just a couple of cards, and hand it over to another runner. Almost like a relay team.
Often there weren't any mails, but the runners studiously have to carry the empty bags and exchange it with the other person for another, possibly, empty bag. As I was getting terrific mails from home and friends in Boithili, the remote village, I was thankful for these postmen and the gratitude stays till date.
Some years ago, the red post boxes were ubiquitous even in small villages. Often they were some sort of landmark too. But, today they are fast disappearing because of the private courier operators - so do the STD telephone booths due to cellphones.
There is a charm in public institutions providing communication services to remote places. I like the idea that it is the State's responsibility to ensure that people stay in touch with each other. I am hoping to revive the "tradition" of hand-written mails from New Year 2008 !
Anyone cares to get such letters ?
Holy Ash by Post
Devotees of Lord Kashi Vishwanath across India have reason to rejoice as they will now be getting the holy ash ("vibhuti") and other articles from the famous temple at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh delivered right at their door step.
This has been made possible by the Department of Posts that has joined hands with Kashi Vishwanath Mandir Trust to deliver the "vibhuti" and other articles by post anywhere in India - round the year.
I wonder what else can be sent through our wonderful postal system - besides God's grace and the holy ash, of course ! In my College days, quite a few things. Saree. Chains made of cheap beads. Even Diwali sweets to the office team in Gudalur once.
Once I was a voracious writer of letters. Wrote a Gujarati letter in IRMA days, using a 'Rapidex - Learn Gujarati in 30 days" book, I think, to Vandana. Wrote a Malayalam written to Rema Menon soon after coming to Gudalur. Major achievements, now when I think.
When I lived in the adivasi areas of Andhra Pradesh for three years, it was wonderful to see the 'Runners' of the postal department in those really remote places. For every twenty kilometres or so, there will be a carrying the postal bags, containing just a couple of cards, and hand it over to another runner. Almost like a relay team.
Often there weren't any mails, but the runners studiously have to carry the empty bags and exchange it with the other person for another, possibly, empty bag. As I was getting terrific mails from home and friends in Boithili, the remote village, I was thankful for these postmen and the gratitude stays till date.Some years ago, the red post boxes were ubiquitous even in small villages. Often they were some sort of landmark too. But, today they are fast disappearing because of the private courier operators - so do the STD telephone booths due to cellphones.There is a charm in public institutions providing communication services to remote places. I like the idea that it is the State's responsibility to ensure that people stay in touch with each other. I am hoping to revive the "tradition" of hand-written mails from New Year 2008 !
Anyone cares to get such letters ?
Dec 6, 2007
Public Bathroom
Thanks to Broadband, there are many nice video clips that we have access to.
See this really funny one called Public Bathroom.
And, this one about the Crazy Traffic in India.
YouTube is revolutionising personal publishing. Getting lots of ideas to use video clippings for our work. Durga made a small video on Anaemia - Now we can make our own films on Health Education ! Time is the only constraint now ...
Is there any software that can expand the day, if we click (I am willing to even double-click) into say, 50 hours ?
See this really funny one called Public Bathroom.
And, this one about the Crazy Traffic in India.
YouTube is revolutionising personal publishing. Getting lots of ideas to use video clippings for our work. Durga made a small video on Anaemia - Now we can make our own films on Health Education ! Time is the only constraint now ...
Is there any software that can expand the day, if we click (I am willing to even double-click) into say, 50 hours ?
Dec 2, 2007
Customer is God ?
Recently read this in the newspapers :
Juxtapose this to the quote (famously being displayed in different shops and institutions - including our Gudalur branch of the State Bank of India) of Mahatma Gandhi on Consumers :
I am embarrassed to see Gandhi's quote in big business or in a shopping mall. To assume that the modern business exists to provide 'seva' to the customers is too far fetched. When the motto is to suck up the 'fortune' available even 'at the bottom of the pyramid', customer service is just another tool to increase sales. It is not an attitude, as Gandhi would have articulated.
It is as good as saying, ICICI exists to facilitate our people buying cars (read the news item once again).
After due consideration, I came to the conclusion that this is just "Twisting things and putting words into Gandhi's mouth"
Finally, when we see some of the salesmen or service providers complaining that their customers ask too many questions, it may be better to refer them to this quote by Sam Walton :
There is a cartoon that goes well with the news on ICICI bank :
ICICI fined Rs. 50 lakh
The Delhi consumer commission fined the ICICI bank a whopping Rs. 50 lakh for employing "goons" to recover loan. It deplored the practice of the banks intimidating consumers to pay the instalments.When Consumer Satisfaction and repeat customers are considered to be the most important mantra of the modern management gurus, how can this bank do something like this ? This is not the first or last incident of ICICI doing something like this.
The commission also ordered the ICICI to pay Rs. 5 lakh to a consumer, who was mercilessly beaten up by the recovery agents. They snatched a loaned car from him.
Juxtapose this to the quote (famously being displayed in different shops and institutions - including our Gudalur branch of the State Bank of India) of Mahatma Gandhi on Consumers :
"A Customer is the most important visitor on our premises. He is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him. He is not an interruption in our work.He is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider in our business. He is a part of it.I was curious about this Gandhi quote on Consumers and the way modern business is exploiting this quote. I am sure Gandhi would not have imagined that his statement will be displayed prominently in a, say, reliance show room. I tend to think that he would have meant the whole concept of 'service' or 'seva' when he talked about consumers. That is, if at all he had said something like this.
We are not doing him a favor by serving him. He is doing us a favor by giving us an opportunity to do so."
I am embarrassed to see Gandhi's quote in big business or in a shopping mall. To assume that the modern business exists to provide 'seva' to the customers is too far fetched. When the motto is to suck up the 'fortune' available even 'at the bottom of the pyramid', customer service is just another tool to increase sales. It is not an attitude, as Gandhi would have articulated.
It is as good as saying, ICICI exists to facilitate our people buying cars (read the news item once again).
After due consideration, I came to the conclusion that this is just "Twisting things and putting words into Gandhi's mouth"Finally, when we see some of the salesmen or service providers complaining that their customers ask too many questions, it may be better to refer them to this quote by Sam Walton :
"The customer has all the answers…
and, importantly, all the money…”
There is a cartoon that goes well with the news on ICICI bank :
Dec 1, 2007
What almost every woman knows sooner or later
I have a lot of things to say about Gender - being a living example of why gender activism is needed today. Look out this space for more on gender issues - through my limited vision (probably considered 'narrow' by professional gender specialists).
To start with, let us enjoy this nice poem written by I-don't-know-who.
To start with, let us enjoy this nice poem written by I-don't-know-who.HUSBANDS
Husbands are things that wives
have to get used to putting up with
And with whom they breakfast
with and sup with
They interfere with the disciplineHow do you like that ? Came across this nice advertisement for a book. The cover page itself is quite illustrative !!
of nurseries
And forget
anniversaries
And when they have been
particularly remiss
They think they can
cure everything
with a great big kiss
Nov 22, 2007
Orissa boys are Rugby World champions
Mari sent a link to this wonderful piece of news which happened in early October. But, did not hear about it in other places. So, assuming that this might be the case with many of you, I am writing about it in Musings as well.
Adivasi boys from Orissa have won the Rugby world championship. The team almost didn’t make it to London because the players didn’t even have valid birth certificates that are mandatory for their passports. (I could empathise with them, as we struggle with our adivasi team every year for their passports and visa).
Indian team consisting of all the players from Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences, Bhubaneswar won Under-14 Rugby World championship by defeating South Africa in the final match held at London. The tournament involved ten under - 14 Rugby teams from different parts of the World.
You can read the entire story here. Their team is called 'Jungle Crows' and I love the name.
Recently we watched 'Chak De India' and liked it quite a bit - though lot of exaggerations there. The girls from Jharkhand reminded me of these rugby champion boys !!
Adivasi boys from Orissa have won the Rugby world championship. The team almost didn’t make it to London because the players didn’t even have valid birth certificates that are mandatory for their passports. (I could empathise with them, as we struggle with our adivasi team every year for their passports and visa).
Indian team consisting of all the players from Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences, Bhubaneswar won Under-14 Rugby World championship by defeating South Africa in the final match held at London. The tournament involved ten under - 14 Rugby teams from different parts of the World.You can read the entire story here. Their team is called 'Jungle Crows' and I love the name.
Recently we watched 'Chak De India' and liked it quite a bit - though lot of exaggerations there. The girls from Jharkhand reminded me of these rugby champion boys !!
Nov 18, 2007
Author Norman Mailer dies at Age 84
The two time Pulitzer prize winning American author died.
"He built and nurtured an image over the years as pugnacious, streetwise and high-living. He drank, fought, smoked pot, married six times and stabbed his second wife during a drunken party.
He had nine children, made a quixotic bid to become Mayor of New York, produced five forgettable films, dabbled in Journalism, flew gliders, challenged professional boxers, was banned from a Manhattam Young Women's Hebrew Association for reciting obscene poetry, feuded with writer Gore Vidal and crusaded against women's liberation."
I would have thought it takes more than a few life times to do all these things !!
But, the best epitaph he could have was in Guardian (reproduced in the Hindu) :
"He built and nurtured an image over the years as pugnacious, streetwise and high-living. He drank, fought, smoked pot, married six times and stabbed his second wife during a drunken party.
He had nine children, made a quixotic bid to become Mayor of New York, produced five forgettable films, dabbled in Journalism, flew gliders, challenged professional boxers, was banned from a Manhattam Young Women's Hebrew Association for reciting obscene poetry, feuded with writer Gore Vidal and crusaded against women's liberation."I would have thought it takes more than a few life times to do all these things !!
But, the best epitaph he could have was in Guardian (reproduced in the Hindu) :
The man whose greatest books consolidated the now standard view that reporting is as important to storytelling as invention. His books were a nightmare for any librarian hoping to neatly classify them as fiction or non-fiction.What would I like to be written on my epitaph ?
Nov 13, 2007
Deepavali - Festival of Lights (Sounds ?)
Just back from celebrating another Deepavali. Though our Chief Minister Karunanidhi feels that we Dravidians should not celebrate Deepavali - a symbol of an Aryan king vanquishing a Dravidian king - it is nice festival. Crackers, fireworks and sweets.
Though, strictly speaking, it is the festival of lights, I end up celebrating it merely as a festival of sweets. Children in the house are given the responsibility to ensure that lights part of the ceremony is attended to.
Our family, of course, has a way of enjoying the light effects created by not only our children, but that of the entire town of Trichy. Rock Fort is a nice landmark in Tiruchirappalli and on top of this hillock, there is (what else, but) a temple of Ganapathi.
On Deepavali night, if you climb on top this big rock, after quickly praying to the God, you get to see the fireworks of the entire city. It is a lovely sight - completely free. The most wonderful, and Cheapest, way of celebrating Deepavali - the travel costs are of course subsidised by the blessings you get from Lord Ganesha !
But, of late, Deepavali in India was becoming more a festival of Sounds than Lights. After living in nice tribal areas for more than 15 years, I am becoming allergic to sound. Gone are the days, when as children we used to vie with each other to burst the loudest crackers.
So, I was pleasantly surprised to read a news item in The Hindu on November 6, 2007, which ran something like this :
All these legislations only show that India is developing. (India Shining - not India Screaming !) We have come quite a long way from our national obsession with sound and loudspeakers. While every country would love to reduce the noise pollution, all our trucks running all over the country with national permit 'request' you to 'Sound Please', 'Blow Horn', 'Sound Horn', 'Please Make Noise', and what not !
(After that, of course, you need to wait for side - because giving way to the vehicle behind you is a prestige issue for most of our drivers !)
Though, strictly speaking, it is the festival of lights, I end up celebrating it merely as a festival of sweets. Children in the house are given the responsibility to ensure that lights part of the ceremony is attended to.Our family, of course, has a way of enjoying the light effects created by not only our children, but that of the entire town of Trichy. Rock Fort is a nice landmark in Tiruchirappalli and on top of this hillock, there is (what else, but) a temple of Ganapathi.
On Deepavali night, if you climb on top this big rock, after quickly praying to the God, you get to see the fireworks of the entire city. It is a lovely sight - completely free. The most wonderful, and Cheapest, way of celebrating Deepavali - the travel costs are of course subsidised by the blessings you get from Lord Ganesha !But, of late, Deepavali in India was becoming more a festival of Sounds than Lights. After living in nice tribal areas for more than 15 years, I am becoming allergic to sound. Gone are the days, when as children we used to vie with each other to burst the loudest crackers.
So, I was pleasantly surprised to read a news item in The Hindu on November 6, 2007, which ran something like this :The Tamilnadu Pollution Control Board has appealed to the public to refrain from bursting crackers, which produce noise of high decibals and cause pollution during deepavali.I was curious - why 125 decibals and why 4 metres ? (Anway, isn't it risky to stand just 4 metres away from a cracker to measure whether it produced 125 decibals ? I guess they have some terrific machines for this, which are deaf and not scared of fire.) But, law is law. I am sure, children would feel cheated if the crackers, after all their elaborate preparations of closing their ears and eyes, go off producing a mere 124 decibal.
Sale of crackers which produced 125 decibals at a distance of 4 metres when they went off was banned.
All these legislations only show that India is developing. (India Shining - not India Screaming !) We have come quite a long way from our national obsession with sound and loudspeakers. While every country would love to reduce the noise pollution, all our trucks running all over the country with national permit 'request' you to 'Sound Please', 'Blow Horn', 'Sound Horn', 'Please Make Noise', and what not !
(After that, of course, you need to wait for side - because giving way to the vehicle behind you is a prestige issue for most of our drivers !)
Ultimate Indictment
A Guardian article on Rudy Giuliani, the American Republican Party's presidential aspirant :
=
+ 
=
+ "Mr. Giuliani is a dangerous man. He is George Bush with brains. Dick Cheney with better aim."It is the ultimate insult any self-respecting politician can get these days !!
Nov 1, 2007
When you are in New York subway ...
[From the creator of Dilbert, Scott Adams's blog]
"This week I am in Manhattan, living like a New Yorker. I have learned many things about the city. Today I will teach you how to ride the subway.
First, when you drop part of a cookie in the subway station, the five second rule does not apply. That cookie is dead before it hits the ground.
Second, when someone with a badge throws you on the ground, puts your arm behind your back, puts his knee on your neck, and yells, “DO NOT RESIST! DO NOT RESIST!” you should not resist. I learned this by watching. I also learned that you are not supposed to watch. You are supposed to “KEEP ON MOVING!”
To ride the subway, you must purchase a card with a magnetic strip. You learn this by observing other people “in the know” swiping their cards as they enter the turnstile. There are many options for what type of card you might want for particular purposes, and no apparent posted instructions. Luckily, you can ask for guidance from a helpful person who is behind thick glass. This transaction involves mumbling, rushing, condescension, the supposition that you are a moron, much evidence to support that assumption, and eventually the exchange of money for a little card that may or may not have some application for riding the subway.
Once armed with your little card, you swipe it on the turnstile. This is a frightening experience because there are at least nine wrong ways to swipe a card in a turnstile. I discovered all of them as a line of impatient New Yorkers formed behind me. I was holding the card the right way, and swiping it in the right direction, but as a uniformed guard eventually showed me, there is also something about the speed, trajectory, and possibly your state of mind that is also necessary for the turnstile to accept the card. I don't know how many times the turnstile has to reject you before the guy with the badge puts his knee on your neck and starts yelling “DO NOT RESIST!” but I am sure I was close to the limit.
Once you are on the subway, you must find a seat next to a person you judge least likely to drool on you, rob you, or start a conversation. My wife picked a guy who eventually fell asleep and slumped on her. I picked a guy who was muffin-topping into my seat and listening to an iPod. We felt blessed with our choices.
Next comes the wondering if you are heading in the right direction. There is one sign in each subway car showing the names of stations along the line. This sign is printed with tiny lettering so only the people sitting directly below it can read it. I didn’t want to risk losing my sweet seat next to the muffin-top guy so I relied on listening to the conductor announce the stations.
The announcements sound like Charlie Brown’s teacher on Quaaludes, approximately this: “Muwa muwa muwa.” I assume the conductors have the option of speaking in some language that humans can understand, but that is not their way. So we defaulted to the “get off when most other people get off” method of navigation.
This worked well traveling from Grand Central Station to the US Open tennis match in Flushing. To travel to any other destination, you have to become a native, either intentionally or because you can’t figure out how to get to the airport."
"This week I am in Manhattan, living like a New Yorker. I have learned many things about the city. Today I will teach you how to ride the subway.
First, when you drop part of a cookie in the subway station, the five second rule does not apply. That cookie is dead before it hits the ground.
Second, when someone with a badge throws you on the ground, puts your arm behind your back, puts his knee on your neck, and yells, “DO NOT RESIST! DO NOT RESIST!” you should not resist. I learned this by watching. I also learned that you are not supposed to watch. You are supposed to “KEEP ON MOVING!”
To ride the subway, you must purchase a card with a magnetic strip. You learn this by observing other people “in the know” swiping their cards as they enter the turnstile. There are many options for what type of card you might want for particular purposes, and no apparent posted instructions. Luckily, you can ask for guidance from a helpful person who is behind thick glass. This transaction involves mumbling, rushing, condescension, the supposition that you are a moron, much evidence to support that assumption, and eventually the exchange of money for a little card that may or may not have some application for riding the subway.
Once armed with your little card, you swipe it on the turnstile. This is a frightening experience because there are at least nine wrong ways to swipe a card in a turnstile. I discovered all of them as a line of impatient New Yorkers formed behind me. I was holding the card the right way, and swiping it in the right direction, but as a uniformed guard eventually showed me, there is also something about the speed, trajectory, and possibly your state of mind that is also necessary for the turnstile to accept the card. I don't know how many times the turnstile has to reject you before the guy with the badge puts his knee on your neck and starts yelling “DO NOT RESIST!” but I am sure I was close to the limit.
Once you are on the subway, you must find a seat next to a person you judge least likely to drool on you, rob you, or start a conversation. My wife picked a guy who eventually fell asleep and slumped on her. I picked a guy who was muffin-topping into my seat and listening to an iPod. We felt blessed with our choices.
Next comes the wondering if you are heading in the right direction. There is one sign in each subway car showing the names of stations along the line. This sign is printed with tiny lettering so only the people sitting directly below it can read it. I didn’t want to risk losing my sweet seat next to the muffin-top guy so I relied on listening to the conductor announce the stations.
The announcements sound like Charlie Brown’s teacher on Quaaludes, approximately this: “Muwa muwa muwa.” I assume the conductors have the option of speaking in some language that humans can understand, but that is not their way. So we defaulted to the “get off when most other people get off” method of navigation.This worked well traveling from Grand Central Station to the US Open tennis match in Flushing. To travel to any other destination, you have to become a native, either intentionally or because you can’t figure out how to get to the airport."
Oct 23, 2007
Some more Error Messages
Here are some more error messages from our friendly computer - mainly using Windows.
First, a medical error message.
Problems like this happened when we tried to introduce computers to our adivasi nurses in the hospital. They could not understand why we didn't think of immunising the computer (or the users) much before the virus struck !
Many a times, Microsoft itself is confused a bit. They figured out something is wrong, but what is it ?
When you do not get any 'communication' from Microsoft for quite some time, you feel something is wrong. That is the time, you should get something random like this ...
Of course, such a rare phenomenon normally catches them also in surprise. They can't believe that there wasn't an error in the operating system so long.
Mighty pleased with themselves, Microsoft guys will start patting their own backs.
One of the first things I do, when I sit in a new computer is to switch off the Office Nuisance, I mean, the Office Assistant. The OA thinks too much of itself and we must put it in proper place. See, one can't even commit suicide without this fellow popping up ...
The best is of course when they try to say, there isn't anything wrong with their software, but the problem is YOU !
How do you like that !!
PS :
However, there are some people who need constant support from the Office Assistants. Here is one such gentleman ...
First, a medical error message.
Problems like this happened when we tried to introduce computers to our adivasi nurses in the hospital. They could not understand why we didn't think of immunising the computer (or the users) much before the virus struck !Many a times, Microsoft itself is confused a bit. They figured out something is wrong, but what is it ?
When you do not get any 'communication' from Microsoft for quite some time, you feel something is wrong. That is the time, you should get something random like this ...
Of course, such a rare phenomenon normally catches them also in surprise. They can't believe that there wasn't an error in the operating system so long.Mighty pleased with themselves, Microsoft guys will start patting their own backs.
One of the first things I do, when I sit in a new computer is to switch off the Office Nuisance, I mean, the Office Assistant. The OA thinks too much of itself and we must put it in proper place. See, one can't even commit suicide without this fellow popping up ...The best is of course when they try to say, there isn't anything wrong with their software, but the problem is YOU !How do you like that !!
PS :
However, there are some people who need constant support from the Office Assistants. Here is one such gentleman ...
Oct 15, 2007
Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics ...
Statistics as a subject had evoked extreme passions over the years. Opinion is divided about its usefulness, even its status as a scientific subject - like the singing talents of Cacophonix. Statisticians think that it is a science and useful, while everyone else thinks it is just a lie.
Someone said, "Numbers are like people after all. Torture them enough and they will tell you anything". One George Gallup even seemed to have boasted, "I can prove God Statistically". Here are some statistical highlights why they felt that way.
It is proven that the celebration of birthdays is healthy. Statistics show that those people who celebrate the most birthdays live longer.
According to a recent poll, 51% of all Americans are in the majority.
A statistician can have his head in an oven and his feet in ice, and he will say, "On the average, I feel fine."
Studies have shown that the leading cause of death is life.
39% of unemployed men wear spectacles. 80% of employed men wear spectacles. Work spoils your eye sight.
Someone said, "Numbers are like people after all. Torture them enough and they will tell you anything". One George Gallup even seemed to have boasted, "I can prove God Statistically". Here are some statistical highlights why they felt that way.
It is proven that the celebration of birthdays is healthy. Statistics show that those people who celebrate the most birthdays live longer.
According to a recent poll, 51% of all Americans are in the majority.
A statistician can have his head in an oven and his feet in ice, and he will say, "On the average, I feel fine."Studies have shown that the leading cause of death is life.
39% of unemployed men wear spectacles. 80% of employed men wear spectacles. Work spoils your eye sight.
People who do very unusual jobs: the man who counts the number of people at public gatherings.
You've probably seen his headlines, "Two million flock to see Pope.", "200 arrested as police find ounce of cannabis.", "Britain #3 billion in debt". You probably wondered who was responsible for producing such well rounded-up figures. What you didn't know was that it was all the work of one man, Rounder-Up to the media, John Wheeler. But how is he able to go on turning out such spot-on statistics? How can he be so accurate all the time?
"We can't" admits Wheeler blithely. "Frankly, after the first million we stop counting, and round it up to the next million. I don't know if you've ever counted a papal flock, but, not only do they look a bit the same, they also don't keep still, what with all the bowing and crossing themselves."
"The only way you could do it accurately is by taking an aerial photograph of the crowd and handing it to the computer to work out. But then you'd get a headline saying "1,678,163 [sic] flock to see Pope, not including 35,467 who couldn't see him", and, believe me, nobody wants that sort of headline."
The art of big figures, avers Wheeler, lies in psychology, not statistics. The public like a figure it can admire. It likes millionaires, and million-sellers, and centuries at cricket, so Wheeler's international agency gives them the figures it wants, which involves not only rounding up but rounding down.
Sometimes they do get the figures spot on. "250,000 flock to see Royal two", was one of his recent headlines, and although the 250,000 was a rounded-up figure, the two was quite correct. In his palatial office he sits surrounded by relics of past headlines - a million-year-old fossil, a #500,000 Manet, a photograph of the Sultan of Brunei's #10,000,000 house - but pride of place goes to a pair of shoes framed on the wall.
"Why the shoes? Because they cost me #39.99. They serve as a reminder of mankind's other great urge, to have stupid odd figures. Strange, isn't it? They want mass demos of exactly half a million, but they also want their gramophone records to go round at thirty-three-and-a-third, forty-five and seventy-eight rpm. We have stayed in business by remembering that below a certain level people want oddity. They don't a rocket costing #299 million and 99p, and they don't want a radio costing exactly #50."
Funny, isn't it ? Anyway, to round off the Statistics section, here is a nice conclusion by two statisticians :
Two statisticians were travelling in an airplane from LA to New York. About an hour into the flight, the pilot announced that they had lost an engine, but don't worry, there are three left. However, instead of 5 hours it would take 7 hours to get to New York.
A little later, he announced that a second engine failed, and they still had two left, but it would take 10 hours to get to New York.
Somewhat later, the pilot again came on the intercom and announced that a third engine had died. Never fear, he announced, because the plane could fly on a single engine. However, it would now take 18 hours to get to new York.
At this point, one statistician turned to the other and said, "Gee, I hope we don't lose that last engine, or we'll be up here forever!"
Oct 12, 2007
Goddess Durga, Harry Potter and Copyright
First it was Turmeric. Now, magical mythical characters ! People in the Western world trying their copyright stunts on Indians and our ancient knowledge and traditions ...
Indian Newspapers on October 11th said something like this :
"J.K.Rowling, the creator of fictional character Harry Potter filed a copyright violation case against a Kolkata-based puja committee. The suit is filed with the Delhi High Court for using statues of the Harry Potter characters without prior permission. Lawyers representing the Edinburgh-based author and Warner Brothers, who hold the rights for the Harry Potter series in India, confirmed that a petition had been filed in the Delhi High Court. The suit seeks restraint order from the court against the Puja organizers in Salt Lake area of the city from using Harry Potter characters on the pandal."
It all started with the organisers of the Durga Puja festival at Salt Lake deciding to create the pandal like the imaginary Hogwarts Castle. The four-day Durga Puja festival which begins on October 17 is the biggest Hindu festival in east India. In Kolkata alone, more than 10,000 pandals -- elaborately crafted temporary structures in various themes -- are set up to venerate the goddess. This festival is celebrated on the occasion of Goddess Durga's killing a demon and the victory of good over evil.
Like all of us, typical Indians, the organisers had no clue that they need to seek permission from the author. They thought the immense popularity of Harry Potter will make a good theme.
Meanwhile, kids of the locality were reported to be irked over the legal action initiated by the author and her associates. They felt that the move will definitely spoil their festivities, the greatest in eastern India.
The organizers did not want to leave everything to Durga and heavenly intervention alone. Durga, probably, had the capacity to kill demons - for which the Durga puja is celebrated, incidentally. But, courts, copyright petitions and insecure authors are a different ball game altogether. They were not sure whether Durga will be able to do it and went to Court instead.
They decided to send a team of three lawyers, one of them a Supreme Court advocate, to fight their case in the Delhi High Court. And, lo, what the court did !
The High Court might have saved us, but the agents may go to the Supreme Court. But, as of now, the Goddess Durga seemed to have conquered one more evil - the copyright freaks !
Indian Newspapers on October 11th said something like this :"J.K.Rowling, the creator of fictional character Harry Potter filed a copyright violation case against a Kolkata-based puja committee. The suit is filed with the Delhi High Court for using statues of the Harry Potter characters without prior permission. Lawyers representing the Edinburgh-based author and Warner Brothers, who hold the rights for the Harry Potter series in India, confirmed that a petition had been filed in the Delhi High Court. The suit seeks restraint order from the court against the Puja organizers in Salt Lake area of the city from using Harry Potter characters on the pandal."
It all started with the organisers of the Durga Puja festival at Salt Lake deciding to create the pandal like the imaginary Hogwarts Castle. The four-day Durga Puja festival which begins on October 17 is the biggest Hindu festival in east India. In Kolkata alone, more than 10,000 pandals -- elaborately crafted temporary structures in various themes -- are set up to venerate the goddess. This festival is celebrated on the occasion of Goddess Durga's killing a demon and the victory of good over evil. People from all over the country visit the city at this time, and it is considered a matter of great pride and honor for local communities if their pandals are praised for originality and getting the most visitors.
They seemed to have spent more than ₤ 15,000 for this. Now, there was a danger yesterday that it may have to be dismantled if the copyright violation case continues. The organizers were also on the verge of constructing a mock steam train next to the castle set, which was intended to resemble the Hogwarts Express.Like all of us, typical Indians, the organisers had no clue that they need to seek permission from the author. They thought the immense popularity of Harry Potter will make a good theme.
Meanwhile, kids of the locality were reported to be irked over the legal action initiated by the author and her associates. They felt that the move will definitely spoil their festivities, the greatest in eastern India.The organizers did not want to leave everything to Durga and heavenly intervention alone. Durga, probably, had the capacity to kill demons - for which the Durga puja is celebrated, incidentally. But, courts, copyright petitions and insecure authors are a different ball game altogether. They were not sure whether Durga will be able to do it and went to Court instead.
They decided to send a team of three lawyers, one of them a Supreme Court advocate, to fight their case in the Delhi High Court. And, lo, what the court did !
The court allowed the group in Kolkata to use the structure until October 26, when the festival ends. "The court has given us permission to use the Pandal (the structure) and whatever has been made till the 26th of October, no compensation has been directed to be paid," the community's lawyer, Soumitra Ghose Chaudhuri told the Press later.
The group's lawyer seemed to have argued that since the celebrations were held in the public interest and they were not for profit, the community did not need to pay compensation. "We are quite overjoyed with the court's order," said Santanu Biswas, a leading community member.
First of all, our elders should have registered all our mythological stories - a few thousand years ago itself. It would not have been possible for Rowling and her ilk to write about flying animals and chariots, talking doors and scary castles. If the good old people in India had thought of 'protecting' all the magic tricks abound in our mythology, we could have stopped this billionaire author from suing our kids in Calcutta for Two Million rupees. Alas, we never thought of it. Our people felt stories are for kids and they are to be told to children wherever they are. We thought stories and the characters are for joy - we never thought of selling them !The High Court might have saved us, but the agents may go to the Supreme Court. But, as of now, the Goddess Durga seemed to have conquered one more evil - the copyright freaks !
Oct 8, 2007
Senior citizen on the wheel
As a senior citizen was driving down the freeway, his car phone rang. Answering, he heard his wife's voice urgently warning him, "Dear, I just heard on the news that there's a car going the wrong way on 280. Please be careful!"
"Heck," said the husband, "It's not just one car. Not one, They are hundreds of them !!"
"Heck," said the husband, "It's not just one car. Not one, They are hundreds of them !!"
Oct 7, 2007
Ageing - 2 : For the Proud Old things among us
I was born in 1966. So, I qualify to be called OLD already. So, as a true member of the club, I root strongly for my tribe. The old things. A wonderful email that has been circulating for the last six months is worth sharing in Musings now ...
All kids born in 1930s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s
First, we survived being born to mothers who had no full time maids/cooked food/cleaned the house while they carried us. They took aspirin, ate cheese , sweet dishes and didn't get tested for diabetes.
Then after that trauma, our baby cribs were covered with bright coloured lead-based paints.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.
As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags. Riding in the back of a local bus/train was a special treat.
We would spend hours on the terrace under bright sunlight flying our kites, without worrying about the UV effect which never ever effect us.
We drank water from the tap and NOT from a bottle. We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this. We ate pastries, white bread and real butter and drank soft drinks with sugar in it, but we weren't overweight because......
WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!!
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.
We would spend hours reparing our out dated bicycle and scooter out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.
We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, no video tape movies, no surround sound, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet or Internet chat rooms........!
WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!
We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.
We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.
We were never given BB guns for our 10th birthdays,
we made up games with sticks and tennis balls and although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just yelled for them!
Cricket League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!
The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!
This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!
The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL!
And YOU are one of them!
CONGRATULATIONS!
PS -The big type is because, at your age, your eyes need it.
PPS - Of course, in our over-enthusiasm, we may think too much of ourselves. Here is one to remind us where we stand in today's world with super kids around ...
All kids born in 1930s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s
First, we survived being born to mothers who had no full time maids/cooked food/cleaned the house while they carried us. They took aspirin, ate cheese , sweet dishes and didn't get tested for diabetes.
Then after that trauma, our baby cribs were covered with bright coloured lead-based paints.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.
As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags. Riding in the back of a local bus/train was a special treat.We would spend hours on the terrace under bright sunlight flying our kites, without worrying about the UV effect which never ever effect us.
We drank water from the tap and NOT from a bottle. We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this. We ate pastries, white bread and real butter and drank soft drinks with sugar in it, but we weren't overweight because......
WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!!
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.
We would spend hours reparing our out dated bicycle and scooter out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.
We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, no video tape movies, no surround sound, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet or Internet chat rooms........!
WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!
We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.
We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.
We were never given BB guns for our 10th birthdays,
we made up games with sticks and tennis balls and although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just yelled for them!
Cricket League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!
The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!
This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!
The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL!
And YOU are one of them!
CONGRATULATIONS!
PS -The big type is because, at your age, your eyes need it.
PPS - Of course, in our over-enthusiasm, we may think too much of ourselves. Here is one to remind us where we stand in today's world with super kids around ...